The publication is reproduced in full below:
CONDEMNING CONTINUED VIOLATION OF RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF PEOPLE OF HONG KONG BY PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG SPECIAL
ADMINISTRATIVE REGION
Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 130) condemning the continued violation of rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong by the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Hong Kong special administrative region.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 130
Whereas despite international condemnation, the Government of the People's Republic of China (``PRC'') continues to disregard its international legal obligations under the Joint Declaration of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the Question of Hong Kong
(``Joint Declaration''), in which the PRC committed that--
(1) Hong Kong would enjoy a high degree of autonomy;
(2) for at least 50 years the ``social and economic systems in Hong Kong'' would remain unchanged; and
(3) the personal rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong would be protected by law;
Whereas, as part of its continued efforts to undermine the established rights of the Hong Kong people, the PRC National People's Congress Standing Committee (``Standing Committee'') passed and imposed upon Hong Kong oppressive and intentionally vague national security legislation on June 30, 2020, that grants Beijing sweeping powers to punish acts of
``separating the country, subverting state power, and organizing terroristic activities'';
Whereas the legislative process by which the Standing Committee imposed the national security law on Hong Kong bypassed Hong Kong's local government in a potential violation of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
(``Basic Law''), and involved unusual secrecy, as demonstrated by the fact that the legislation was only the second law since 2008 that the Standing Committee has passed without releasing a draft for public comment;
Whereas, on July 30, 2020, election officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) disqualified twelve pro-democracy candidates from participating in the September 6 Legislative Council elections, which were subsequently postponed for a year until September 5, 2021, by citing the public health risk of holding elections during the COVID-19 pandemic;
Whereas, on July 31, 2020, in an attempt to assert extraterritorial jurisdiction, the HKSAR Government announced indictments of and arrest warrants for six Hong Kong activists living overseas, including United States citizen Samuel Chu, for alleged violations of the national security law;
Whereas, on November 11, 2020, the HKSAR Government removed four lawmakers from office for allegedly violating the law after the Standing Committee passed additional legislation barring those who promoted or supported Hong Kong independence and refused to acknowledge PRC sovereignty over Hong Kong, or otherwise violates the national security law, from running for or serving in the Legislative Council;
Whereas, on December 2, 2020, pro-democracy activists Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow, and Ivan Lam were sentenced to prison for participating in 2019 protests;
Whereas ten of the twelve Hong Kong residents (also known as ``the Hong Kong 12'') who sought to flee by boat from Hong Kong to Taiwan on August 23, 2020, were taken to mainland China and sentenced on December 30, 2020, to prison terms ranging from seven months to three years for illegal border crossing;
Whereas, on December 31, 2020, Hong Kong's highest court revoked bail for Jimmy Lai Chee-Ying, a pro-democracy figure and publisher, who was charged on December 12 with colluding with foreign forces and endangering national security under the national security legislation;
Whereas, on January 4, 2021, the Departments of Justice in Henan and Sichuan province threatened to revoke the licenses of two lawyers hired to help the Hong Kong 12; and
Whereas, on January 5, 2021, the Hong Kong Police Force arrested more than fifty opposition figures, including pro-democracy officials, activists, and an American lawyer, for their involvement in an informal July 2020 primary to select candidates for the general election originally scheduled for September 2020, despite other political parties having held similar primaries without retribution: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) condemns the actions taken by the Government of the People's Republic of China (``PRC'') and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (``HKSAR''), including the adoption and implementation of national security legislation for Hong Kong through irregular procedures, that violate the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong that are guaranteed by the Joint Declaration and its implementing document, the Basic Law;
(2) reaffirms its support for the people of Hong Kong, who face grave threats to their rights and freedoms;
(3) calls on the governments of the PRC and HKSAR to--
(A) respect and uphold--
(i) commitments made to the international community and the people of Hong Kong under the Joint Declaration; and
(ii) the judicial independence of the Hong Kong legal system; and
(B) release pro-democracy activists and politicians arrested under the national security law; and
(4) encourages the President, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of the Treasury to coordinate with allies and partners and continue United States efforts to respond to developments in Hong Kong, including by--
(A) providing protection for Hong Kong residents who fear persecution;
(B) supporting those who may seek to file a case before the International Court of Justice to hold the Government of the PRC accountable for violating its binding legal commitments under the Joint Declaration;
(C) encouraging allies and partner countries to instruct, as appropriate, their respective representatives to the United Nations to use their voice, vote, and influence to press for the appointment of a United Nations special mandate holder to monitor and report on human rights developments in Hong Kong;
(D) ensuring the private sector, particularly United States companies with economic interests in Hong Kong, is aware of risks the national security legislation poses to the security of United States citizens and to the medium and long-term interest of United States businesses in Hong Kong;
(E) continuing to implement sanctions authorities, especially authorities recently enacted to address actions undermining the rights and freedoms of the Hong Kong people such as the Hong Kong Autonomy Act (Public Law 116-149) and the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 (Public Law 116-76), with respect to officials of the Chinese Communist Party, the Government of the PRC, or the Government of the HKSAR who are responsible for undermining such rights and freedoms; and
(F) coordinating with allies and partners to ensure that such implementation of sanctions is multilateral.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 130.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 130, Condemning Continued Violation of Rights and Freedoms of the People of Hong Kong by People's Republic of China and Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
I have introduced this resolution to demonstrate this body's already strong, bipartisan support for the people of Hong Kong.
The situation in Hong Kong has been alarming for several years now. We have witnessed the degradation of civil liberties and human rights as the PRC continues to disregard its international legal obligations under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration.
For months, in 2019, the people of Hong Kong peacefully took to the streets in historic numbers to preserve their democracy and demand their rights and freedoms. Unfortunately, these peaceful protesters were met with excessive force by the police and the further imposition of restrictions on expression and assembly. Thousands have been beaten, injured, and illegally detained in violation of due process.
Rather than listen to the demands of the majority of Hong Kongers, the Chinese Government blatantly bypassed Hong Kong's local government and imposed a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong and its people with very little accountability or transparency. The vague, overly broad measures this security law put in place are little more than a thinly veiled attempt to erode Hong Kong's autonomy and restrict the space for peaceful expression. It steals from the people of Hong Kong the ability to exercise the freedoms of speech and association and creates an environment of fear around the expression of any political sentiment.
It is no surprise that since the passage of this law, political censorship has spiked significantly and Hong Kong officials have become increasingly brazen in undermining democratic norms, such as disqualifying pro-democracy candidates from participating in the legislative council elections and removing democratically elected lawmakers from office.
Hong Kong authorities have also used the national security law to target and silence pro-democracy activists at home and abroad. They have even issued arrest warrants for activists living overseas, including a U.S. citizen, for alleged violations of national security law.
Hundreds of pro-democracy figures and activists have been arrested or sentenced to prison, including Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow, Ivan Lam, the
``Hong Kong 12,'' and Jimmy Lai Chee-Ying, while others await a further crackdown. But the resolve of the people of Hong Kong has not wavered, and neither will the resolve of the people of the United States, our allies, and this body.
Mr. Speaker, see, democracy is the cornerstone of the work we do in the people's House. We must support the people of Hong Kong as they fight for the rights and freedoms promised to them under the Basic Law. With the passage of this resolution, the House reaffirms its continued support for the people of Hong Kong.
We stand by activists who continue to come forward in their cause for democracy and human rights at great risk to themselves, their families, and their future. But by passing this resolution, the House sends a strong, bipartisan message demanding that the Chinese and Hong Kong Governments respect the will of the people of Hong Kong.
We will continue to push for democracy and respect for human rights in Hong Kong. We will continue to demonstrate that we stand in solidarity with the pro-democracy figures and activists who have made tremendous sacrifices for their city and for their core human rights.
This is an important resolution, and I support it and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the very distinguished Speaker of the House of Representatives.
{time} 1730
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his very moving and profound statement on democracy and democratic freedoms in Hong Kong. I thank the chairman for his leadership for bringing this important legislation to the floor. I thank the ranking member, Mr. McCaul, for his leadership, as well, on an ongoing basis on this important issue and for his courtesy for yielding back.
It is always an honor to be with Chris Smith, we have been working on these issues together for 30 years--a very long time--to demonstrate the bipartisan nature of the support that we have for democratic freedoms in Hong Kong, in the House, and in the Senate, bicameral and bipartisan.
Mr. Speaker, Friday was a sad day and a disturbing day for the people of Hong Kong and for all freedom-loving people as sentences were handed down to Martin Lee, a global champion of human rights, and to other pro-democracy leaders for engaging in peaceful protests.
This afternoon, 3 days after that distressing development, I had the privilege to speak with activists from the Hong Kong Democracy Council. It was an inspiration to hear how they and the people of Hong Kong are responding to China's crackdown with great courage; how the dream of real autonomy cannot be extinguished by injustice or intimidation.
In our conversation earlier today--and in all my communications with Hong Kongers--they asked that the United States Congress continue to speak out to support their aspirations for the freedoms that they were promised. We were there when they promised them.
Today, with this resolution, Congress is honoring that call. I thank Chairman Meeks, Ranking Member McCaul, again, Representatives Bera and Malinowski, and the distinguished chair of the China Executive Commission, Mr. McGovern, for their work on this important legislation.
H. Res. 130 condemns the continued violation of rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong by the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
It states that Communist China continues to ``disregard its international legal obligations under the joint declaration'' which mandates, among other pledges, that ``Hong Kong would enjoy a high degree of autonomy'' and ``the personal rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong would be protected by law.''
This resolution today makes clear that China has trampled on its promises, including its draconian so-called national security law used to target and round up peaceful protesters under the guise of terrorism; disqualification of pro-democracy candidates from participating in the September 6 legislative council elections; the indictments and arrests for six Hong Kong activists living overseas--as the distinguished chairman pointed out, including here in the United States--and the arrests and sentencing of dozens of pro-democracy activists, including, as was mentioned, Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow, and Ivan Lam--and opposition leaders, the Hong Kong 12, of this past December and January. Again, I mention Martin Lee.
The United States Congress has always supported Hong Kong on a bipartisan and bicameral basis, and we remain laser-focused on efforts to support Hong Kong's efforts to maintain and grow the rule of law and freedom of speech in their home, and we are determined to hold China accountable.
Our response must include further strengthening our work with international coalitions--this has to be multilateral--passing legislation in addition to this resolution, to support Hong Kong, building on the passage of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act in 2019.
Our legislative response must also address the plight of the Uighurs and Tibetans and the violation of their rights in China; and we must continue to use our platform to speak out about Beijing's crackdown on the global stage and ensure that the voices that the Chinese Government are trying to silence are heard.
In response, our focus must be on human rights. As I always say, if we do not speak out for human rights in China because of commercial interests, then we lose all moral authority to speak out on human rights anywhere in the world.
That is what I have been stating and fighting for--as we have together--since 1991 when I went to Tiananmen Square and unfurled a black-and-white banner reading: To those who died for democracy.
Ever since, many of us have fought to ensure that human rights and trade are firmly linked, from sponsoring the U.S.-China Act in 1993 and in 1994 urging Congress to deny China most-favored nation status to goods made by the PLA in the prisons.
Mr. Smith and Mr. Frank Wolf went there and saw the evidence of prison labor goods being sent to the U.S. and corporate America just ignoring the whole thing.
Then in 2000 we fought efforts to give China a blank check when it failed to comply with its market commitment under the WTO, and they still continue to do that.
We cannot allow economic interests to blind us to moral injustices committed by China.
On Friday in a speech to court, the storied Hong Kong attorney, Margaret Ng, quoted Sir Thomas More, the patron saint of the legal profession, who was tried for treason because he would not bend the law to the king's will. Margaret Ng ended her statement by paraphrasing his final, famous words:
I stand the law's good servant, but the people's first. For the law must serve the people, not the people the law.
With that, I support an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote for this resolution and for the Congress' continued bipartisan and bicameral work to support the people of Hong Kong in the face of Beijing's exploitation of and assault on the law. It is a very important piece of legislation, and I am so glad it is going to have bipartisan support.
Mr. Speaker, I urge an ``aye'' vote, and I thank the chair and the ranking member of the committee for their leadership.
Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
First of all, let me thank the Speaker for coming down on the floor to give her personal remarks. I know she has a busy schedule, but this really honors and shows her commitment to human rights in Hong Kong and all around the world.
Mr. Speaker, I was proud to join the chairman in leading this measure to condemn the egregious violations of Hong Kong's freedoms. The Chinese Communist Party's relentless oppression of the people of Hong Kong is not a Republican or Democratic issue. We are united as Americans in standing with Hong Kongers.
Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement has inspired people around the world to fight for liberty over tyranny. But in June of last year, the Chinese Communist Party used its sham legislature to enforce a dystopian national security law on Hong Kong. This law criminalizes basic civil liberties, it violated China's treaty commitments, it destroyed the ``one country, two systems'' model of autonomy, and it inserted the CCP's police state into Hong Kong to crush dissent.
Since it passed, the CCP has purged pro-democracy lawmakers from the government while arresting the CCP's political enemies.
Unfortunately, the CCP's human rights abuses in Hong Kong are far from over. Chairman Meeks' resolution continues our bipartisan work to call out the CCP's abuses and to stand with the people of Hong Kong, and I urge my colleagues' support for this measure.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), who is the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations and has been a champion for human rights more than most people have been in this Congress maybe combined.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, the ranking member, for his kind remarks. I thank him for his leadership on this resolution, as well. I thank Chairman Meeks for his leadership on this. It is a bipartisan resolution, and it is very much needed right now. H. Res. 130 condemns the ongoing violation of human rights and the rule of law in Hong Kong perpetrated by the Chinese Communist Party under Xi Jinping and the Government of Hong Kong itself.
As the author of the House-passed, bipartisan Hong Kong Human Rights Act signed into law last Congress, which I first introduced in 2014 and again in 2015, 2017, and then for a final time in 2019, I want to just thank Speaker Pelosi for putting that legislation before this body and for her strong support.
The Speaker mentioned a moment ago how we have worked for well over 30 years on combating human rights abuses in China whether it be Tibet, the ongoing repression and now genocide against the Uighurs, and the crackdown on religious freedom which has now become nothing but pervasive persecution against people of all faiths as well as the Falun Gong. We have worked very, very closely together, and I believe going back to right after Tiananmen Square, that linkage of human rights with trade was the only way to effectuate systemic change. Regrettably, we have lost so far that linkage. But, again, now we are seeing manifestations, particularly in Hong Kong.
Could Taiwan be next? Consider all of the promises that were made--
and there were solemn promises made by the dictatorship in Beijing--to respect human rights in Hong Kong. The basic law is now being violated with impunity.
Of course, there is the Sino-U.K. agreement that is being violated. This is an international treaty, and there is the Chinese dictatorship one by one arresting the best, the bravest, and the brightest of Hong Kong and putting them into prison for long prison sentences.
As the Speaker noted a moment ago, we just saw that Joshua Wong got an additional jail sentence on his already 13\1/2\-month jail sentence. We know that he is a great young man, and he represents the future of Hong Kong. He now is languishing in prison.
I met Martin Lee in Hong Kong in the early 1990s, and he suggested to me that someday he may find himself in prison. He said that it is worth it for human rights and for democracy. He is an absolutely brave and an absolutely principled lawyer, a former member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council. He too has been convicted under this crackdown on democracy promotion in Hong Kong.
So there are also many, many others. Jimmy Lai was one of five who were just sentenced last Friday. So this is happening in real time every single day. Once you are arrested and put into prison, the bully boys of the Hong Kong police make sure that you suffer, and you suffer intensely.
So, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank, again, Chairman Meeks for bringing this forward and, of course, my good friend, Mr. McCaul.
Mr. MEEKS. I continue to reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Meijer), who is a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Mr. MEIJER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 130, a resolution condemning the violations of the basic rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong. As part of the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong, the People's Republic of China made a series of commitments: that Hong Kong would retain a high degree of autonomy; that its social and economic systems would remain unchanged until at least 2047; and that the personal rights and liberties of the people of Hong Kong would be protected by the law.
Yet we continue to see the PRC infringe on Hong Kong's sovereignty and its people's freedoms. It has been made abundantly clear that the People's Republic of China has no intention of keeping its promises.
Most recently, the PRC forced through the draconian but mundane-
sounding Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. This law casts an authoritarian net over Hong Kong and has empowered a crackdown on vaguely worded political crimes like subversion and collusion with foreign powers. From day one, that law has been abused, with the people of Hong Kong arrested for such crimes as wearing stickers or T-shirts with disagreeable slogans.
The rapid erosion of Hong Kongers' rights and freedoms is absolutely unacceptable, and it is past time that the PRC and its puppet government that it installed in Hong Kong be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution to send a clear message that we in the United States will not stand by as the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong are stripped away.
Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers if the gentleman from Texas is ready to close.
Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, sadly, we no longer see American flags waving over thousands of peaceful protesters in the streets of Hong Kong. Displaying our symbol of liberty has become a criminal act punishable by life in prison. But even though the freedom-loving people of Hong Kong can no longer publicly ask for our support, we still hear these pleas. Congress hears them, the American people hear them, and it is now more important than ever that we continue to stand with the people of Hong Kong.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Meeks for bringing this resolution which I was proud to join as a lead cosponsor, and I yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1745
Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, first, let me thank the ranking member for making sure we make a unified, strong, bipartisan statement, and all of my colleagues on the Foreign Affairs Committee on both sides of the aisle because H. Res. 130 sends a strong and unequivocal message: The United States stands firmly in support of the people of Hong Kong and the rights, freedoms, and autonomy they are promised in the joint declaration and basic law.
This resolution signals that the House's support of the people of Hong Kong and their struggle for democracy shall not waiver and shall remain firm and resolute.
Mr. Speaker, I hope that all of my colleagues will join Ranking Member McCaul and myself in supporting this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 130.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion are postponed.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 67
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
House Representatives' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
Alerts Sign-up